Preliminary reports have surfaced indicating the Secretary of the Air Force is considering Cannon Air Force Base as the possible location for a nuclear reactor, according to a story published this morning in InsideDefense, an Internet news service covering defense and the aerospace industry. InsideDefense reported the Secretary of the Air Force plans to sign […]

Portales Women’s Club Portales Woman’s Club met Wednesday with 31 members and four guests present. Sasha Parker was introduced by the Education/Scholarship Committee as the GFWC New Mexico State Scholarship winner, as well as the Portales Woman’s Club scholarship winner. At the recent state convention she received a four-year Harriett Donohoo/Dorothy Pendleton Scholarship. Also introduced […]

By Jean Verlich: Freedom Newspapers New Mexico Labor Secretary Betty Sparrow Doris is in Clovis today as part of a two-day visit to eastern New Mexico to lay groundwork for a more integrated approach in meeting the state’s employment needs. Doris met Tuesday in Portales with members of the Eastern Area Workforce Development Board. She […]

By Karl Terry: PNT Managing Editor Sheriff-elect Darren Hooker says he always politely corrects anyone who refers to the organization he works for as the sheriff’s department. He says he works for the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office — a distinction he says is important. Hooker says the organization isn’t a department of anything — instead […]

By Marlena Hartz Gov. Bill Richardson’s weekend criticism of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will not scar the search for a new mission at Cannon Air Force Base, according to staunch Cannon advocate and Clovis banker Randy Harris. Richardson, interviewed on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” said there is “deep frustration” within the military, “the Iraqi war […]

Freedom Newspapers of New Mexico Letitia Montoya, 43, is a candidate for the Democratic nominee for New Mexico secretary of state in the June 6 primary election. The secretary of state is the third-highest state official, after the governor and lieutenant governor, and fills in for them when they are out of state. New Mexico’s […]

Senior Airman Ross Steen, 27th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, briefs Assistant Secretary of the Air Force William Anderson on the Common Configuration Implementation Program during his visit here. Staff Sgt. Craig Seals As directed by the final 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations, the Air Force is exploring new mission options for Cannon. Assistant Secretary […]

The current force shaping round will take a “slice” from every level of leadership in the Air Force. This should ensure that no one particular level of experience is effected more than the rest and it will keep stability in the work force. Staff Sgt. Craig Seals Force shaping, right-sizing or negative retention, regardless of […]

Marlena Hartz : Freedom Newspapers A candidate mission for Cannon Air Force Base has not been identified, despite contrary indications, a newly appointed Air Force assistant secretary said Wednesday. “When there is an emotional issue, as this is, people often times read into statements,” William Anderson said Wednesday before he toured Cannon. Local Cannon supporters […]

By Kevin Wilson: PNT Managing Editor U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., told members of a largely Democratic audience that the Republicans in Washington are not doing enough to help Americans, but also said Democrats need to do more if they hope to change that. Udall was the guest during a luncheon organized by Friends of […]

By Marlena Hartz: Freedom Newspapers Members of a Cannon Air Force Base advocate group urged the public Tuesday morning to regard the federal decision to enclave the base as positive. “Now we have a definite opportunity. I don’t feel like we are in limbo. I feel like we have a known,” said Clovis banker and […]

The Associated Press WASHINGTON — A federal panel voted Friday to accept the Pentagon’s recommendation to send Cannon Air Force Base’s three F-16 fighter squadrons elsewhere — but stopped short of closing Cannon. Instead, the commission voted 6-1, with two abstentions, to turn it into an enclave, keeping the eastern New Mexico base open in […]

David Stevens: Freedom Newpapers Clovis Community College President Beverlee McClure is expected to be named the state’s new Higher Education secretary today, college regents Robert Lydick and Gayla Brumfield and state Sen. Stuart Ingle said. Officials with the governor’s office declined to confirm the appointment, but Bill Richardson scheduled a press conference for 9 a.m. […]

Freedom Newspapers SANTA FE — Clovis Community College President Beverlee McClure is one of five finalists to lead the newly created Higher Education Department, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The other four finalists for Higher Education Secretary position are: • James Fries, former president, College of Santa Fe • Carmen Gonzales, […]

By Mike Linn The U.S. secretary of agriculture came to Clovis on Wednesday behind an entourage of political, dairy and technological gurus to promote broadband and wireless services in rural America and the re-election of one of New Mexico’s congressmen. Ann M. Veneman told Eastern New Mexico Rural Co-op, local business and media personnel before […]

The kindergarten and first grade have been studying apples this past month. They learned many interesting facts about apples and have done several projects throughout the month. The scholastic book fair has been going on all week at the elementary school. The school would like to thank Elida Police Chief Ron Haley for donating sweatshirts […]

Editor’s note: Gov. Bill Richardson visited Clovis and Portales on Wednesday to solicit support for two state constitutional amendments aimed at education reform, which voters will decide on Sept. 23. He spent about an hour with Freedom Newspapers of New Mexico staff members, answering questions on a variety of issues. Q. Would the creation of […]

Jack King Gov. Bill Richardson emphasized local autonomy and accountability when he made a pitch to Portales residents Wednesday for two state constitutional amendments aimed at education reform. Richardson spoke in the Portales High School auditorium as part of a barnstorming swing around the state that is expected to end in Silver City at 5 […]

By Gary Mitchell State Economic Development Secretary Rick Homans said going to places like Portales and listening to people’s concerns and ideas make up one of the more pleasant aspects of his job as a cabinet secretary under Gov. Bill Richardson. “The most pleasurable part of my job is getting on the road and making […]